Making friends in Girona

From Guide to Girona

Girona Buddies[edit]

Girona Buddies is a WhatsApp community in Girona to help locals and newcomers make friendships through shared interests and inclusive events.

Girona Buddies history[edit]

Girona Buddies started in February 2024, when Denise, a newcomer to Girona, posted on Facebook group for Girona expats: "Hello, you! If you're looking for friends and want to go out for a coffee, send me your phone number, and I'll make a WhatsApp group."

The WhatsApp group, initially called Costa Brava Buddies, had about 50 members at the beginning. The first meetup was a picnic in Parc del Migdia. About fifteen people from various countries came. Despite the cold and sitting on the ground, the warmth of the gathering left a lasting impression.

Denise organized many of the group's activities over the spring and summer, like yoga sessions, hikes, and brunches. She had to leave Girona in October 2025. She passed on admin responsibilities to Paul, who has been running the group since. Since then the group has expanded from a WhatsApp group to a WhatsApp community, and now has over 40 subgroups focused on activities like hiking, language exchange, music, crafts, and mental health support. Paul also created an Instagram account, Facebook group, and Meetup account.

Links[edit]

Girona International[edit]

Girona International is a social group mainly aimed at young internationals in Girona. It’s especially popular with Erasmus students, but events are open to everyone.

They host a karaoke night every second Friday at Duplex Bar, usually starting around 9:30 PM. It’s often draws 30+ people. Some say the karaoke events skew a bit young and party-focused, but it depends on what you’re looking for.

The main organiser is Alexey DA. Their Facebook group has three other people as admins: Arina Elabuzheva, (main admin), Laia OJ, and Miguel Cstlln.

Girona International history[edit]

  • The group appears to date back to 2021, with early meetups like a picnic in Parc del Migdia (co-incidentally the same as Girona Buddies's first meetup, three years later).
  • In 2022, gatherings were held at El Pati del Rabí.
  • In early 2023, events shifted to Kerunta Bar, where a karaoke photo from March 26, 2023 is now their Facebook profile picture.
  • They later moved their main karaoke nights to Duplex Bar.[1]

Links[edit]

💡 Note: Girona International is different from the [Girona International Society](https://www.meetup.com/girona-international-meetup).

Girona Conecta

Girona Conecta is a community project founded by Nastya Elikan, who is originally from Russia and has lived in Catalunya since 2014 and in Girona since 2020.[2] She has a background in marketing.

She organizes a recurring event called Girona Conecta Get Together, where people from diverse backgrounds meet to socialise. The meetups happen once a fortnight, generally on a Thursday or a Friday from 6:30-9:30 PM.

Meetups have been hosted at various locations around Girona, including:

  • Hors Catégorie
  • Hotel Ultònia (terrace)
  • La Garrina
  • Selva bar & restaurant
  • La Malabarista
  • River Café
  • Passeig Arqueològic gardens (as part of Tempo Festival)

The meetups typically attract 20 to 30 participants, although some editions have seen as many as 50. Attendees range in age from their 20s to their 60s, and come from all over the world – including the USA, Mexico, Belgium, Australia, France, Ukraine, Argentina, the UK, and of course, Girona and Catalunya.

When participants arrive, they write their name on a sticker and are free to mingle, chat, and form spontaneous conversation circles.

Events are promoted on Instagram, Facebook, and Meetup.

Background[edit]

The first event was held in October 2023. Over time, interest grew, leading to the use of Eventbrite for managing RSVPs. In January 2025, they held their 20th meetup event.

Links[edit]

Girona Social Meetup[edit]

Weekly English-speaking meetup, every Tuesday at 7.30 PM at Dúplex Restaurant. About 15-20 people go each time. Mostly attended by middle-aged to older people, but open to all.

All their events are published on https://www.meetup.com/girona-social-meetup/. They don't have Instagram or Facebook.

Ami from California currently manages the group.

According to their Meetup page, the group has existed since at least 2014.

Regulars at La Garrina[edit]

There a group of regulars at La Garrina (a bar in the Barri Vell who are a mix of locals and foreigners, and welcome new people. It's a bit like cheers. They don't meet on the same day each week. Sometimes it's a Friday, a Saturday, or even a Sunday or Wednesday. Members include MaryLynn, ...

Girona Mamas and Papas

Facebook group for English-speaking parents. Run by Mary Lynn. They meet up around once a month.

Facebook page

Group of retired English speakers that meets at Café Royal on Wednesday mornings[edit]

A group of mostly retired English speakers (Americans and English people) that meets just after 11:30 AM every Wednesday at Café Royal in Plaça Independencia. One of the two organisers is Michele Cohen.[3][4]

Espartanos (Spanish & Catalan speaking WhatsApp groups)[edit]

Espartanos was a WhatsApp group originally created by Jordi Correos and two other men before 2020 as a social group for people who enjoy discos and nightlife.[5] At its peak, it had over 1,000 members.[6] Since then, multiple spin-off groups have formed. [7]

Més Aventura[edit]

Xavier Bosch (Xavi) runs a WhatsApp community called Més Aventura. His phone number is 617 66 01 29. In the community, there are around 10 subgroups, including a hiking subgroup called Rius i Corriols which has 727 members.

Espartanos Costa Brava[edit]

A WhatsApp group created on 28 Jan 2024 by a woman called Joanka. As of 3 May 2025, the group has 168 members. Extremely active, with seemingly hundreds of messages every day. The members are mostly middle-aged Catalan women. They organise dinners at restaurants, evenings out at discos (especially in a club called Millennium in Sils, and a club called Malavida in Platja d’Aro)[8], afternoon gatherings with tapas and drinks, etc.

Apparently they organise a hike every week (!) and at some events have 200 people (!).[9]

Mari is one of the current admins. She’s Catalan, from Olot, and enjoys going to concerts.[10]

Social media links[edit]

Marrecs de Salt[edit]

A human tower (castells) group in Salt. Open to everyone, including foreigners. You don’t need to speak Catalan, and it’s a fun way to learn. People of all ages and body types can take part, there’s a role for everyone, not just those who climb. They also organize social events and trips during the year.

Trainings are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Fewer people go on Wednesday, so it's a good day to go if you want to do more training. It's also a good day if you want to try "pilars" (a tower of just 1 person per level).[11]

It's free to go, the only thing you have to pay for are the shirts.[12]

Meeting times[edit]

Tuesdays

  • 7-8 PM Children and beginners[16]
  • 8-10 PM General training

Wednesdays

  • 7-8.30 PM Pilars and beginners

Fridays

  • 7:30-8 PM Children and beginners
  • 8:30-10:30 PM General training

Location: Naus Guixeres 8, Factoria Cultural Coma Cros, 17190 Salt[17]

Chicken Club (Costa Brava)[edit]

The Chicken Club is a group of international women living in the Empordà. The group was co-founded by Sam Segarra Boyle,[18] and is built around the idea of offering support, friendship, and fun to women adjusting to life abroad.

They meet every 4–6 weeks for informal gatherings and social events in different locations, such as L’Escala and nearby towns.[19] Most of their activity happens in a private WhatsApp group, and events are announced there.

How to join[edit]

DM Sam Segarra Boyle on Instagram or on Facebook

Links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ This is all from looking through their Instagram account.
  2. ↑ https://www.diaridegirona.cat/dominical/2025/01/14/girona-connecta-gironins-sense-fronteres-113387642.html
  3. ↑ 2025-05-21: See comment on a Facebook post in Girona Costa Brava Expats International. Michele Cohen: "We have a group, mostly retired Americans, that meets just after 11:30 evey Wednesday at Café Royal in Plaça Independencia. PM me if you have any questions about Girona. We've lived here 10 years."
  4. ↑ Conversation with Michele Cohen on 2025-05-22: "Yes, I am one of the 2 unofficial organizers. It's not just Americans, but for English speakers. Unlike other groups, it's not for people who come so they can practice their English. Since it's on a weekday morning, we attract retired people."
  5. ↑ Conversation Paul with one of the members, Ferran, on 2025-05-27
  6. ↑ Conversation Paul with one of the members, Ferran, on 2025-05-27
  7. ↑ Conversation Paul with one of the members, Ferran, on 2025-05-27
  8. ↑ Conversation Paul with one of the members, Ferran, on 2025-05-27
  9. ↑ Conversation Paul with one of the members, Ferran, on 2025-05-27
  10. ↑ Conversation Paul with one of the members, Ferran, on 2025-05-27
  11. ↑ 2025-05-11: Conversation with someone from the Marrecs: "Dimecres és un grup més petit. Però són menys, llavors pots fer més corts. A mi m'agraden dimecres, també. Perquè, si vols provar de fer pilars, els dimecres."
  12. ↑ 2025-05-11: Conversation with someone from the Marrecs: "Per tenir camises has de pagar per l'associació, que és un preu molt baix. Però tu al principi pots venir gratis, el temps que vulguis.
  13. ↑ Message from Maria in the General chat, 6 March 2025
  14. ↑ https://marrecs.cat/les-nostres-places/
  15. ↑ https://marrecs.cat/les-nostres-places/
  16. ↑ https://marrecs.cat/les-nostres-places/
  17. ↑ https://marrecs.cat/les-nostres-places/
  18. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/samsegarraboyle/ says "Sam Segarra Boyle, Co-founder @the.chicken.club.costa.brava"
  19. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/groups/793354344359351/posts/2384204211941015/ says "Hey! We're The Chicken Club 😊 a group of international women, a whole range of ages, living in the Emporda. ... We arrange local meetings and events every 4-6 weeks"
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